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Superintendent outlines proposed MSBA building committee; committee accepts $101,210 from Cohasset Education Foundation
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Sarah Strang presented a proposed MSBA school building committee roster required for the district's MSBA eligibility phase; the committee also accepted $101,210 in grants from the Cohasset Education Foundation and received an end‑of‑year budget update.
Superintendent Dr. Sarah Strang updated the Cohasset School Committee on the MSBA process and on district finances at the May 20 meeting, presenting a proposed school building committee roster and asking the committee to accept foundation grants awarded to the district.
Dr. Strang said the district is in phase one (eligibility) of the Massachusetts School Building Authority process and must submit a school building committee by June 1. The proposed roster includes town leadership (town manager), select board representation, school committee membership, district leaders, facilities and planning staff, finance representatives, parents and community members with building expertise, teachers and student representatives.
"We are in a place where we have all but one member established for our school building committee," Dr. Strang said, and added that she expects the full list to be filed by the MSBA deadline.
The committee also considered a donation package from the Cohasset Education Foundation totaling $101,210, which included an anonymous $100,000 gift earmarked for technology for the secondary schools and multiple smaller grants for project‑based learning professional development, STEM materials, arts residencies and athletics. The committee moved to accept the donation; the motion passed by voice vote with four members recorded in favor.
Business office staff provided a monthly budget update: the district’s uncommitted balance stood just over $2,000 as the fiscal year closes, with roughly $55,000 in salary savings available to cover potential deficits and utility-usage variances noted (higher gas usage, lower electricity use). Officials said final payroll and outstanding invoices will be reconciled in June to confirm year-end balances.
Dr. Strang said she plans to convene the full MSBA school building committee in the fall to introduce members to the process even though substantive design work will occur later in phase two. Committee members asked logistical questions about committee size, voting eligibility and subcommittees for hiring the owner’s project manager and the design firm.
Next formal steps: submit the MSBA committee roster by the June 1 deadline and finalize year-end accounting after the June payroll.
